Speed exhibiting device



Aug. 10, 1943- E. c. NICHOLIDES SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l .INVENTOR E-E N 7C]-!UL. DE5 BY 8 ATTORNEY E. C. NICHOLIDES SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR a ,4 EEHJEHULJDES 2 WWJU ATTORNEY 1943- E. c. NICHOLIDES SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ECJYJL'HC LJDEE BY s MQML.

ATTORNEY Aug. 1943- E. c. NICHOLIDES 2,326,247

SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 4 Sheets$heet 4 INVENTOR SEAT/T513355 BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Emmanuel Christ Nicholides, Chicago, Ill.

- Application December 11, 1942, Serial No. 468,682

3 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 262,649, filed March 18, 1939.

This invention relates to speed indicating and recording devices and has among its objects an improved device for producing a speed diagram showing the speeds at which a moving body, such as a motor vehicle, traveled during a predetermined preceding distance; and the combination of such indicating device with means for recording such speed diagram.

The foregoing and other objects of the inven-- tion will be best understood from the following description of an exemplification thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a side view of the assembled speed in- .dicating and recording device;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the indicating bracket;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the block and indicator pin assembly;

Fig. 5 is a detailed front view of the block and indicator pin assembly;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the device along the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectionai view of the device along the line 'i'! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side vertical cross-sectional view of the device along 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8a is a detailed cross-sectional view along line 8a-8a of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8b is an elevational view in the direction of arrow 8b of Fig. 6 showing a portion of the printing mechanism Fig. 8c is a detailed cross-sectional view of the printing mechanism showing its action;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the clip control cam showing its action;

Fig. 10 is a front View of the indicator pins and associated elements under the same operating conditions of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the imprinted speed diagram;

Fig. 12 is a top view of another indicator pin assembly in the form of a simple sprocket link chain;

Fig. 13 is a detailed view of an indicator pin bushing along the line l3--i3 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a front view similar to Fig. 7 showing the link chain assembly.

The device of the invention solves this problem by providing a simple mechanism which keeps making a diagram of the speed of the moving body, such as a vehicle, and retains a part of the speed diagram which shows the speed of the moving body over the last part of its motion in such form that an imprint of the speed diagram may be readily made. The device of the invention enables thus an oificer who stops 9. speeding vehicle to determine the maximum speed at which the vehicle has traveled over a distance before it was brought to a stop. It also enables the officer to make a record of the speeds at which the vehicle traveled over said distance.

The exemplification of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a casing it: of cast metal,

- for instance, provided with a mounting plate iii attched to flanges ll of the casing by screws It. To the mounting plate are attached by screws i9 and spacer posts 26 and it three ad= ditional track-shaped metal plates 22, 23, 24 and a metal guide 25. Fitting theinterior of the casing is also another mounting plate 26 secured to the flanges 2? of the casing by screws 28.

As shown in Fig. 8, on a governor shaft 36 journaled in bearings 3'5 secured to the inward mounting plate 28 by screws 32, is mounted a centrifugal governor formed by governor weights 33 linked by links 34 and 35 to two collars 36, 3? seated on the shaft 3%, collar 36 being affixed to the shaft, as by pin 39, and the elongated collar 3i being free to slide on the shaft so that the centrifugal action of the governor weights moves the collar 31 along the shaft toward the collar 36 against the action of the spring 40 to a position corresponding to the momentary speed imparted to the shaft 3%.

One end of the shaft is provided with a squared portion 42 arranged for coupling to the end of a flexible shaft 43 by means of a coupling member 44 threadedly fitting over a nipple extending from the casing i5. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, one portion of the shaft 30 is provided with a worm 45 which drives gear 48 mounted on shaft 4'? supported between the plates 56 and 26 and engaging gear 48 attached to shaft 49 by set screw 56. On the upper end of the shaft 49, supported between the plates 24, 25, is mounted gear 5! which through its associated gearing acquired an angular velocity proportional to that of the governor shaft.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 8, a series of closely spaced metal blocks 55 which guide in vertical holes a series of slidingly mounted indicator pins 56 with threaded portions 51', are arranged to form an endless chain and move along a track formed by plates 22, 23, 2d. Each block 55 is provided with a roller 58 held on a shaft 59, and a cup-shaped ball bearing socket 60 attached to the block as by means of pin 6|. The rollers 58 ride freely on the upper level of the track formed by facing edges of the guide plates 22 and 23, while the sockets 60 holding ball bearings 62 ride on the lower level of the track formed by the edge of plate 24. This arrangement of rollers and ball bearings assures that the blocks 55 ride freely on the track while maintaining their vertical positions.

The toothed periphery of gear I engages the lower portions of the indicator pins 56 and drives through them their respective blocks 55 along their track with a velocity proportional to the velocity of the governor shaft and the speed of the v hicle. As a result, each block with its associated indicator pin will complete one revolution around the track at the end of any predetermined distance traveled by the vehicle.

As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the momentary position of the longitudinally slidable shaft collar 31 is determined by the speed of the rotation imparted to the governor shaft 30 by the flexible shaft 43. The surface of this slidable collar 31 is provided with circular teeth which are arranged to engage a gear wheel 65 mounted on a shaft 66 supported between two mounting brackets 61 held on the mounting plate 26 by screws 66. The motion of gear wheel 65 is transmitted through link arm 69 secured to the end of shaft 66 by means of lock screw 10, and an arm 1|. pivotally attached to arm 69 as by pin 12, to a vertically slidable pin position cylinder 13 pivotally attached to arm H by pin 15 having a flat top end 1 5 located. along the path of the speed indicator pins 56 and restrained by its internal guide shaft 16 to slide only in a vertical direction so as to stop the engaged pin 56 in a position corresponding to the momentary speed of the governor-shaft 30 in the way described herematter. As a result, the vertical, position of the top 14 of pin driving position cylinder 13 corresponds at all times to the momentary speed imparted to' the governor shaft 30 which in turn cor-responds to the speed of the vehicle with which the apparatus is associated.

As shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the top end of each indicator pin 56 has a flat portion 80-011 which is loosely held an indicator bracket M which is retained by a washer 82, clamped to the end of the pin as by spinning its portion 63. Each indicator bracket 8| is provided with .a raisedportion 84 on one end, and a downward bent portion 85 on the other end, which rests against guide-25, thus preventing the indicator bracket fi'om turning while in motion, and keeping'the raised portions 84 with their faces out- Ward all around the chain. Each indicator bracketBI is also provided with a slot 86 which allowssufiicient play between the bracket and indicator pin so that any pressure exercised upon thebracket 8I will be taken up by guide 25 so asto prevent imposition of any strain on the indicator pins 56. The threaded portion 51 of pins. 56 is engaged by a metal clip 81 which is pivot'ally mounted on the pin block .55 as by means of a shaft 88 welded to the block grooves 69'. Each clip 81 is pressed by a coil spring 90 against the threaded portion 51 to retain each pin in its maximum upward position to which it is pushed by the'governor actuated position cylinder 13.

As shown in Figs. .6, 7, 9 and 10, adjacent to the pin position cylinder 13 is mounted a metal cam 95 held by screw 91 and pins 98 on a post 96 which is attached to the mounting plate I6 by screw 99. As shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, an inclined metal cam I00 i-s-held by screws IOI on the rear side of the lower mounting plate l6 along the path of the indicator pins and terminating in front ofthe position cylinder 13 shaped to slowly raise each pin 56 to its maximum allowable vertical posi-tion as each pin 56 movesover to the cam I00 toward the location above position cylinder 13.

As the chain of pin blocks 55 is moved in a I dicatorpin- 56 allowing the pin to drop by its own gravitational force until its lower end rests on the top 14 of the position cylinder 13. As the block advances to position b, .the lower end of the pin still rests on top 14 of the position cylinder 13, but the clip 81 'is disengaged from cam 95 and again grips the threaded portion 51 of the indicator pin, so that after leaving its engagement with the position cylinder, the indicator pin 56 is retained in the position determined by the ver- I tical displacement of the top 14 of the indicator pin position cylinder 13, which in turn corre-' sponds to themomentary speed of the vehicle. As the motion of the chain continues, each successive block and indicator pin assembly is subjected to the same series of operations and each pin 56 retains a position imparted thereto by the position cylinder 13 until after traveling halfway round the track or more, its lower end on gages the top surface of cam I00 at which point the pin will be gradually reset to its maximum upward vertical position' As shown in Figs. 7 and 8,'-the fiat array ofupwardly projecting indicator pins 56 which face the front'of the casing, is bounded by frame I02 which is. aligned with the indicator brackets Ill and is provided with raised speed scale numerals I03, a raised mileage scale I04, and a serial number block I05, so as to form with the indicator brackets 8! located at the upper ends of the indicator pins 56 a speed diagram, such as shown in Fig. 11, indicating the speeds at which the vehicle traveled over the indicated distance. The crank arms 69, II which actuate the position cylinder 13 are so arranged that in the most important speed region, for instance, between 30 and miles, the speed scale graduations are large to permit more accurate determination of thespeed reachedby the vehicle while traveling at a speed .of this region.

Another form of arrangement for forming a drive for indicator pins of the typ described above is shown in Figs. 12 to 14. An endless simple sprocket-like link chain may be used as a guide support of the speed indicator pins. The link chain comprises a series of hollow cylindrical bushings I01 provided at their ends with'collars I06, I09 and interconnected into an endless chain by links H0 held in place as by spinning. The' chain so formed is threaded over two idler gears Illv and I I2, the teeth of which fit into the space between the bushing" collars I08 and I09. The idler gears III ,and II; are revolvably mounted on shafts 3. which are mounted spacing. Motion is imparted to the chain by ear Ill which is driven by the overnor shaft as in the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 8. The sears III, H2, II! are made or a silent drive mate rial, such as laminated duck material impregnated with a synthetic resin.

Instead of providing an indicator bracket 8| on the upper end of each indicator pin 56, the upper ends of the indicator pins may be provided with cylindrical rollers I20 which engage guide 25 while it moves in front of the printing platen I28 so as to make it possible to imprint the speed indications in'a sheaf of sheets I31 placed in the slot I36, in the way described hereinafter in connection with the device of Figs. 1 to 8.

A speed indicating device of the type described above may be mounted on the dash board oia car so that the speed diagram of the motion of the car formed by the indicator elements 8i along the diagram portion or the guideway, in the manner shown in Fig. 7, shall be exposed to view, being suitably enclosed, for instance, by a transparent cover of plastic material. A traihc ofiicer provided with a standard camera, on stopping the car, would merely have to snap a picture of such speed diagram, together with the vehicle identification number X-31147l, for instance, as shown in Fig. 11, in order to make a conclusive record of the maximum speed at which the car was traveling during the period immediately before it was brought to a stop. Such record would supply a positive proof of the maximum speed at which the vehicle travelled before it was brought to a stop and would eliminate the differences of opinion that arise between a trafiic oflicer and the motorist as to the guilt of the motorist or the actual speed of the vehicle, the record of the maximum speed being conclusive.

Such speed indicating device will also frequently save the motorist from paying fines, by rendering impossible biased charges and testimony of speeding by a hostile trafiic officer. Th conclusive and indisputable proof as to whether the motorist is guilty or innocent supplied by such record will also save much time in trying cases.

A distinct phase of the present invention is the arrangement and utilization of the maximum speed measuring devic so as to make it possible to facilitate imprinting of the record of the maximum speed indication on simple duplicate slips or" paper, such as the trafiic violation ticket ordinarily handed by the traiiic officer to a driver of a vehicle.

In Figs. 1, 2, 6, '7, 8, 8a, 8b and 8c is shown one form of a recording mechanism for enabling simple and quick recording of th speed indication as well as the identifying or other pertinent data that would be useful in establishing a permanent record of the various speeds of the particular vehicle acquired in traveling a predetermined distance.

The recording mechanism is shown mounted in a cover member I25 which is secured to the casing I5 by means of screws I25 in front of the scale frame I132. The hollow cover I25 has inwardly projecting guides I2'i on which is mounted a platen I28 equipped with rollers i29 held in grooves 23! of platen I28, by pins i3il allowing the platen to move freely in a direction towards the scale frame I02. The platen I28 is normally held in a neutral position by two band springs I32 having ends attached to platen I28 by screws I33 and centers attached to the projecting cover bearings I34. In a shallow channel of the platen I28 facing the scale frame I02 and the indicator brackets BI is seated a yieldable compression sheet I35, of rubber, for instance.

The cover member I25 is so shaped and arranged as to form a slot I36 between the exposed face of the scale frame I02, and the edges 84 of the indicator brackets 8| and the facing surface of the cover member I25 and platen I28, to permit the insertion of a sheaf of one or more leaves of printing material I31, such as paper, into the space facing the scale frame and indicator brackets. Such a sheaf of papers may consist, for instance, of duplicate or triplicate copies of a summons directing the operator of the vehicl to answer for a speed violation, and the sheets may be combined with carbon backings so that when the platen presses the sheets towards the indicator bracket edges 84 and scale frame I02, 9. speed diagram as shown in Fig. ll will be imprinted upon the sheets showing the various speeds the vehicle had acquired during a predetermined distance, also an identifying legend, such as a serial number of the device or the motor number of the vehicle.

The actuating mechanism for the printing platen I28 comprises a shaft I46 journaled on bearings i234, extending from the cover wall I25. An eccentric sleeve-like hammer member MI is revolvably mounted on shaft 40, and an actuat ing sleeve I42 is mounted for revolvable and slidable movement on the outwardly projecting portion of the shaft 14d. As shown in Figs, 1 and 6, on the outwardly projecting end of the sleeve M2 is mounted a handle I43 which, as shown in Fig. 6, is locked to the sleeve by screw E44 having an inwardly projecting guide key I45 shaped to engage a guide slot I46 on the shaft 548 so that when the actuating sleeve I42 is rotated by thehandle M3, it slides outwardly along the shaft 140.

The inward end of the actuating sleeve I42 has a driving claw I48 (Fig, 8b) which engages a latch pin I49 slidably mounted in a longitudinal cavity I56 (Fig. 6) of the sleeve MI and pressed outwardly by a spring I5 I against a stop pin I52 extending through a slot of the latch pin I49. The hammer sleeve MI is held in the position 7 shown in Fig. 8 by a relatively stiff torsion spring I54 (Fig. 6). The actuating sleeve I42 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 6 by a relatively flexible spring 55 having its ends locked in the cover bearings I34 and in a lug I56 of the actuating sleeve i42 so as to bias the handle I43 to its inward position, shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The cooperating elements of the hammer sleeve and the actuating sleeve are so arranged that when the handle is turned against the biasing action of spring I55, the driving claw I48 engages the latch I49 of the hammer sleeve and turns it, while at the same time winding its torsion spring I54, thereby storing therein spring energy for actuating the hammer sleeve I ii. ihe driving claw I48 and the latch I49 are so located in relation to the helical guide slot I46 on the shaft I40, that near the end of the rotation of the actuating sleeve 42, the outward motion of the sleeve withdraws its claw I48 from its engagement with the latch 649 of the hammer sleeve I46, to release it. Thereupon, the energy stored in the torsion spring I54 discharges the hammer sleeve I4I against the printing platen I28 with a. predetermined impact force against the sheaf of papers inserted in the slot I 36 for performing the printing operation without causing any damage to the indicating mechanism.

Upon performing the printing operation, the printing platen I28 is automatically returned to its neutral position by the leaf springs I32. The

rear surface of the actuating sleeve claw H8 and of the hammer sleeve latch I49 are so curved and shaped that when the handle I43 is released, and its biasing spring I55 returns it to its normal position, the latch pin M9 is pushed inwardly into its sleeve slot I50 to permit the driving claw to return to its normal position.

The exempliiications of the invention described above will suggest to those skilled in the art many other arrangements and ways for utilizing a chain mechanism of index members'in forming a speed diagram of the various speeds a vehicle acquired in traveling'a predetermined distance, of recording such a speed diagram and other novel features underlying the invention, It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplifications of the invention described herein.

1. In a speed indicating device, from which, for example, a printed record of the speed indication of a moving body may be made; driving means moving at the rate of speed to be indicated, a supporting structure, guide means including an endless array of flexibly joined guide.

members mounted on said supporting structure and arranged to be impelled at a predetermined speed along a guideway, and endless array of indicator elements impelled and guided by said guide members along said guideway and arranged to be individually movable relative to said guide members in a direction lateral to said guideway from a normal position to a set position, setting means including a setting member operative under the control of said driving means at a predetermined setting point for consecutively setting said rigid member located along the diagram portion of said guideway for maintaining indicating portions of the indicator elements forming said diagram arrayed substantially in a plane.

2. In a speed indicating device, from which, for example, a printed record of the speed indication of a moving body may be made: driving means moving at the rate of speed to .be indicated, a supporting structure, guide means including an endless sprocket-chain mounted on said supporting structure and arranged to be impelled at a predetermined speed along a guideway, said chain having an array of hollow guide members extending transversely to said guideway and an array of overlapping link elements inter-connecting consecutive guide elements of said chain, an array of indicator elements individually mounted in the hollow interior of said guide members and impelled thereby along said guideway, said indicator elements being arranged to be individually movable relative to said guide members in a direction lateral to said guideway from a normal position to a set position, setting means including a setting member operative under the control of 10 said driving means at a predetermined setting member operative to retain a plurality of said indicator element passing said setting point in their set positions along a. diagram portion of said guideway to form a speed diagram of the motion of the body, restoring means including a restoring element located along a predetermined guideway portion for automatically restoring each indicator element passing said predetermined guideway portion to its normal position.

, 3. In a speed indicating device, from which, for

example, a printed record of the speed indication of a moving body may be made:' driving means moving at the rate of speed to be indicated, a ,supporting structure, guide means including an endless sprocket-chain mounted on said supporting structure and arranged to be impelled at a predetermined speed along a guideway, said chain/having an array of hollow guide members extending transversely to said guideway and an array of overlapping link elements interconnecting consecutive guide elements of said chain, an array of indicator elements individually mounted in the hollow interior of said guide members and impelled thereby along said guideway, said indicator elements being arranged to be individually movable relative to said guide ,members in a direction lateral to said guideway from a normal position to a set position, setting means including a setting member operative under the control of said driving means at a predetermined setting point for consecutively setting said individual indicator elements in a position corresponding to the momentary speed of the driving means, retaining means including at least one retaining member operative to retain a plurality of said indicator elements passing 'said setting point intheir set positions along a diagram portion of said guideway to form a speed diagram of the motion of the body, restoring mean ineluding a restoring element located along a .pre-

determined guideway portion for automatically restoring each indicator element passing said predetermined guideway portion to its normal position, said supporting structure including at least one rigid member located along the dia- 

